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Ponce De Leon talks world title and Gonzalez rematch - rules out moving back up

Phil D. Jay 
WBN Editor
Mexican celebrating second world title

New WBC featherweight title holder Daniel Ponce De Leon is ready to adhere to his signed contract with Jhonny Gonzalez and give the fallen champion his stipulated rematch in the future.

The 32 year-old told WBN that he may well make a defence of the green belt before any return though and plans to stick around at the 126lb limit for a considerable period after claiming the title on a technical decision on Saturday night in Las Vegas.

“I feel very good to be champion,” Ponce De Leon told World Boxing News. “It’s what I have been looking for so long and now I finally achieved it.

“This time I feel happier than the first time I was champion,” he said, referencing to his long reign as WBO super-bantamweight champion between 2005 and 2008.

“The judges saw me win and I was up on the cards. I knew I would win, but the rematch is there in the contract we signed.

“I could have one or two defences before. We will talk with the promoters and then tell everyone who I fight (next).”

Ponce De Leon had been linked to staying at super-featherweight for rematches with Adrien Broner and Yuriorkis Gamboa before his triumph at the lower limit and now plans to extend his stay at featherweight follwing his eight round win.

“I do not think I'm good at super-featherweight and I have no problems at this weight,” stated the new champion.

“I just give thanks to everyone for their support and that from now on my commitments are larger.

“You win the championship, but the hardest part is staying (there) and I will work hard to make it happen.”

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